Our Students Shine In STEM Programs

By Kelly U. Pew, Ph.D.

Last week, a team of fifth graders and their teacher put Pickens County’s public education system in the national spotlight, even being highlighted in The New York Times.  The boys and their teacher also became Pickens County’s newest ambassadors.

After winning competitions at the district and regional levels, two Clemson Elementary teams traveled to Detroit, Michigan, to compete in the International JetToy Challenge. Our students took four of the thirteen awards, including the Grand Champion Award. We congratulate our students and their teacher Meredith Cross.

Their success is phenomenal, but there’s more.  The JetToy Challenge is only one of the School District of Pickens County’s STEM initiatives.

STEM is an acronym for education programs dealing with science, technology, engineering and mathematics.  Since the early 1990s, STEM education has evolved – and continues to evolve – into integrated, applications-based programs that prepare students to become researchers, designers, problem solvers and engineers.

In Pickens County schools, a Lego robotics program in our middle and elementary schools lays the foundation for a strong robotics program at the high school level.  In fact, the robotics program played a part into two companies’ recent decisions to locate in Pickens County.

Our success in robotics and other STEM programs is the result of a strong partnership among our students and teachers, parents, businesses, industries and volunteers.  Many companies and individuals have generously sponsored teacher training, funded supplies and assisted with competition costs.  The partnerships continue developing.

Most recently, Borg Warner purchased the JetToy kits and sponsored the daylong training for all fifth-grade teachers from Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.  Polyvision, Society of Automotive Engineers, Palmetto Plating, United Tool and Mold, Henry Wilson, Robbie Tweito, James Breneman, Steve Finger, Jeff Poland, Clemson Elementary and Clemson Elementary PTA provided financial support for the teams’ travel.  Also, many volunteers, coaches and mentors have donated hours to our students.  We are extremely grateful to each of you.

We all eagerly followed our teams’ progress while they were in Detroit.  In one email, an adult chaperone reported that everyone wanted to know who the boys in the orange shirts were.  The boys were impressive with their poise and professionalism.  Before long, everyone knew about Clemson Elementary in South Carolina.  That was long before they became grand champions.

Thank you to everyone who had a part in the success.  Most of all, thank you to Mrs. Cross, Jakob Ables, Jonathan Dong, Stone Ke, Jacob Zambrano, Dylan Hall and Will Purkerson for shining a very positive light on Pickens County schools.

Kelly Pew is the assistant superintendent for instructional services for the School District of Pickens County.